Volks

is a Japan-based corporation that produces garage kits and mecha kits as well as the Dollfie, Super Dollfie and Dollfie Dream lines of dolls. The company's headquarters is in Kyoto, with some 30 shops worldwide, and annual sales of about $50 million as of 2008.Galbraith, Patrick W. (2008-05-17) Plastic fantastic: Japan's doll industry booming ‹ Japan Today: Japan News and Discussion. Japantoday.com. Retrieved on 2012-01-04.

History

Volks began as a small hobby shop in 1972. In the late 1990s they produced the first Dollfie dolls, and in 1999 the first Super Dollfie doll was created by Akihiro Enku. In November 2005, Volks USA opened their first American Tenshi no Sumika store in Los Angeles, California.VOLKS INC. - Tenshi-no-Sumika in LA Opening Reception . Volks.co.jp. Retrieved on 2012-01-04.

Corporate structure and products

Volks is organized into three different enterprises. Volks Inc. is the main umbrella company. They operate the Tenshi-no-Sato museum in Kyoto, the Volks Showrooms in Japan, and the Tenshi-no-Sumika shops in Japan, Korea, and the United States. Zoukei-Mura is Volks' sculpting, designing, and assembly department for Super Dollfie. Virginal Art is Volks' marketing and design department with a focus on the hobby market.Summary of VOLKS Incorporated / VOLKS Web-site . Volks.co.jp (1972-12-03). Retrieved on 2012-01-04.

Hideyuki Shigeta is the president of Volks Inc. Several sculptors are working under Zoukei-Mura, most notably Akihiro Enku, the creator of Super Dollfie. Artist Gentaro Araki briefly worked with Volks creating the U-noss line of dolls. There are also several designers working with the Super Dollfie line of dolls. The main designer, Mikey, is the daughter of Volks' president Shigeta. Some other notable designers are K. Mayura, Valico, Aone and Ciera.Internet Archive Wayback Machine. Web.archive.org (2007-12-27). Retrieved on 2012-01-04.

Volks regularly publish the magazine Volks News with information about new products from all of their lines.

Volks have created resin kit figures of characters from a large variety of anime and manga, such as My-HiME, Love Hina, Neon Genesis Evangelion and Oh My Goddess!,Volks; Figures | HobbyLink Japan. Hlj.com (2011-01-02). Retrieved on 2012-01-04. along with video game franchises, such as Shantae. They also have their own line of figures called A-Brand.

They have also created Super Dollfie dolls based on characters from anime and manga such as Chobits, Maria-sama ga MiteruSuper Dollfie Catalog 1Where Angels Lie - A Super Dollfie Database - SD10. Angelden.net (2003-05-05). Retrieved on 2012-01-04.Where Angels Lie - A Super Dollfie Database - SD10. Angelden.net (2003-12-07). Retrieved on 2012-01-04.Where Angels Lie - A Super Dollfie Database - SD13. Angelden.net (2003-12-07). Retrieved on 2012-01-04. and Rozen Maiden.TBS ishop ローゼンメイデンPEACH-PIT完全監修「Rozen Maiden」オフィシャルドール第3弾Super Dollfie 『水銀燈』『雛苺＆くんくん』PEACH-PIT完全監修「Rozen Maiden」オフィシャルドール第3弾Super Dollfie 『水銀燈』『雛苺＆くんくん』 Volks have also collaborated with Lolita fashion brands like Baby, The Stars Shine Bright, H. Naoto, Black Peace Now and Atelier-Pierrot to create Super Dollfie outfits.Super Dollfie Catalog 3Where Angels Lie - A Super Dollfie Database - SD10. Angelden.net (2006-12-24). Retrieved on 2012-01-04.Kira x Baby, The Stars Shine Bright. Angelden.net (2002-05-05). Retrieved on 2012-01-04.Kira x Atelier-Pierrot. Angelden.net (2002-05-05). Retrieved on 2012-01-04.Sara x Black Peace Now. Angelden.net (2002-05-05). Retrieved on 2012-01-04.Nana x Black Peace Now. Angelden.net (2002-05-05). Retrieved on 2012-01-04.

Notes

References

Volks

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